Composition of matter for manufacturing slates or other coverings.



UNITED STATES FREDERICK M. RUSCHHAIIPT,

Patented June 7, 1904.

OF MILWAUKEE, VVISGONSIN.

COMPOSITION OF MATTER'FOR MANUFACTURING SLATES OR OTH ER COVERINGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 761,788, dated June '7, 1904. Application filed December 26, 1902. Serial No. 136,738. (No specimens.)

To a. whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK M. RUSOII- I-IAUPT, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of' Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented certaIn new and useful Improvements This invention relates to a covering material adapted to serve as a substitute for shingles and slates for roofing or for other covering purposes.

The object of this invention is to produce a covering that will serve as a substitute forshingles and slates for roofing or for other covering purposes by an improved method from a new composltion of matter, advlsably to be combined-with a meshed binder fabric.

This object I attain by producing a composition of matter having the desired qualities for a roofing or other covering material, as hereinafter described, by combining the matter produced advisably with a meshed binder fabric, such as wire-nettingor other meshed fabric formed advisably of flexible material, in a peculiar and novel manner, as hereinafter described.

The composition of matter used in produc ing the new covering consists of the followv ing ingredients combined substantially in the proportions stated viz., gum-asphalt, five pounds; asphaltic tar or oil, (so-called maltha or liquid bitumin,) four pounds; clay, (well dried and pulverized or carbonate of lime pulverized,) fifty pounds; fine sand, twentyfive pounds; soapstone or talc, (pulverized and preferably the fibrous variety,) ten pounds; inorganic or organic fibrous material, four pounds, (the inorganic material may be a material like asbestos and the organic material may be a material like wood-pulp or vegetable fiber;) resinate of aluminium, two pounds.

The above ingredients are to be thoroughly mingled by proper agitation in a heatingkettle or other mixing apparatus subjected to a heat of not over 250 Fahrenheit. Care must be taken that the temperature does not overreach 250 Fahrenheit in order that the asphaltic or tarry products will not be decomposed. As soon as the mixture or composition in its heating and mixing'apparatus assumes a uniform state and while heated itis rolled or otherwise formed into sheets.

When to be used as a substitute for shingles or slates, a meshed fabric, preferably having four to eight meshes to the inch, is employed, onto which two of the sheets of the composition before mentioned are pressed or rolled, one sheet lying on either side of the fabric. It has been found desirable to pass the fabric and inclosing sheets of the composition between two heavy rollers. In this manner the two sheets of composition are forced together with the wire between forming a sheet of the composition having a binder of the meshed fabric at its center. The apparatus, including the rollers, may be of any desired construction, and the rollers will pref? erably be set apart, so as to form a sheet of about the same thickness as roofing-slates in ordinary use. In consequence of the heavy pressure produced by the rolling process and on account of the limited movability of the ingredients composing the doughy composition the fibrous and integral solid particles'or ingredients of the composition will lodge in the mass in accordance with their size, specific gravity, flexibility, and resistance, the ingredients having the greatest specific gravity and some of the fibrous ingredients going to the center of the composite a'rticleviz., the binder fabric and adjacent portions of the two sheets of composition and in this manner the heavier ingredients and some of the fibrous ingredients are entangled with the binder fabric. Thus the coarser parts of the composition are forced to the center of the composite sheet andthe finer parts remain near the outside or surfaces of the sheet. After the composite sheet has thus been formed by rolling or pressing two sheets of the composition onto the binder fabric it is passed between a pair of polishingrollers, which will bring the plate or sheet to the exact thickness desired. The polishingrollers must be kept constantly moist in order to prevent sticking of the adhesive particles of the composition to their surfaces and in material is subjected.

phalt and asphaltic tar aided by the aluminie resinate impart to the composition considerable plasticity while it is warm, and while in a warm state the sheets or plates may easily be embossed or provided with relief-figures for ornamentation. After the composite sheets or plates are formed and polished and while warm they are cut into the desired lengths and sizes and, if desired, may be provided with nail-holes.

Although the ingredients of the composition in their natural state have the qualities desired in the composition, still it is mainly the gum-asphalt and asphaltic oil or tar which impart to the composition its quality of durability and causes it to resist the action of those things and influences to which roofing To produce substitute shingles or slates of different grades, sizes, and qualities different grades of binder fabric may be used. One or more of the ingredients may be omitted, and, in fact, any of the ingredients with the exception of the asphalts. The sand or its equivalent, the clay or talc, and even the meshed binder fabric may be omitted and stillasubstitute for slate or shingles be produced by combining the remaining ingredients in the proper proportions. It is preferable, however, to use the composition in combination with the binder fabric.

After the finished plates have been produced and have become cold and hard they can by applying heat be rendered sufiiciently soft to be capable of being readily cut into pieces of the desired shape or form and also sufiiciently soft to be easily folded or bent, so as to conconform to angles or curves or valleys on the roofs to wh1ch they are applied.

manner above set forth resist all action of the weather whether dry or wet, hot or cold, and they will to agreat extent resist the influence of a fire in close proximity to them, as they are not easily ignited by sparks, glowing coals, or burning splinters.

I am aware that asphaltum and one or another of the ingredients included in my composition have been used for reeling purposes; but I am not aware that all of them have been used in combination or any of them in a substantially similar manner in combination with a meshed binder fabric.

\Vhat 1 claim as my invention is 1. The herein-described composition of matter, consisting of gum-asphalt, asphaltie oil, sand, clay, talc, fibrous material, and resinate of aluminium.

2. The herein-described composition of matter consisting of gum-asphalt, asphaltic oil, sand, clay, soapstone, or talc, fibrous material, and a resinate insoluble in water.

3. A covering material compressed and adhering in sheets, consisting of a composition of gum-asphalt, asphaltic oil, sand, clay, talc and resinate of aluminium, as set forth.

L. A sheet of covering material produced under pressure and consisting of a composition of gum-asphalt, asphaltic oil, sand, clay, talc and resinate of aluminimn in the proportions stated.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

. liltllbllltllllf ill. RUSCIIIIAUP'I.

Witnesses:

JNo. S. GREEN, HALBER'I' C. CARTER. 

